Isolation of Campylobacters from Intestinal Tract of Poultry in Northern Region of India

Campylobacter is one of the most common food-borne bacterial enteropathogens. We planned to investigate the prevalence and antibiotic resistogram of Campylobacter in poultry in and around Chandigarh. Poultry samples (n = 127) were obtained from slaughter houses/retail outlets and cultured microaerophilically on Campylobacter media. The isolates were identified phenotypically and by molecular investigation. Identification of specific genes to look for resistance to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin and streptomycin was also done. Campylobacter was isolated from 57/127 (44.9%) of the samples. The most frequent serotypes identified were B: 2, S: 27, Z5: 52 and Z7: 57. All culture isolates (100%) were reconfirmed as Campylobacter by 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction. Molecular identification of isolates revealed the presence of C. jejuni in 45 (79.0%), C. coli in 1 (1.8%) and co-infection of C. coli and C. jejuni in 11 (19.3%). No C. lari and C. upsaliensis were detected. Antibiogram typing showed nalidixic acid resistance in 36.8%, ciprofloxacin resistance in 35.0% and 31.5% resistance for both streptomycin and tetracyclin. A high level of Campylobacter prevalence was found among the poultry with C. jejuni being the most commonly isolated species. Resistance to major antibiotics among Campylobacter isolates from poultry was also very high. The study of prevalence of Campylobacter in poultry and its resistance to major antibiotics will help to plan risk burden strategies throughout the food chain.